World Briefs

A New York man dropped a court case aimed at preventing his daughter from studying in Israel. Vladimir Brichkov last week dismissed the case he had filed to keep his daughter away from Israel, due to the potential for violence there.

"She really wanted to go. Why should I stop her?" he said.

Brichkov's daughter, Bianca, 15, is one of five North American students attending the Elite Academy, a three-year high school program through the Jewish Agency for Israel.

"The minute I see" the papers, "we send her to Israel," said Ronni Vinnikov, the Jewish Agency's emissary for Russian-speaking Jews in New York.

High Court to Hear Nazi Art Case

The Supreme Court will consider whether a California woman can sue Austria in U.S. courts to recoup Nazi-looted art. Maria Altmann, who fled Austria, is seeking $150 million worth of paintings that were stolen 65 years ago. Austria has appealed the case, questioning California court rulings that Altmann can sue Austria and the Austrian Gallery in the United States. Austria contends that the courts do not hold jurisdiction over foreign countries. Altmann is seeking six paintings by Gustav Klimt, two of which depict Altmann's aunt. The case is likely to be heard early next year.

Corrie's Parents Want U.S. Probe

The parents of an American activist crushed to death earlier this year by an Israeli military bulldozer want a U.S. investigation. Rachel Corrie's parents said this week that they are not satisfied by an Israeli army investigation that concluded that the driver who killed Corrie in March could not see her because of the bulldozer's size and armor plating. Corrie's group, the International Solidarity Movement, encourages activists to obstruct Israeli military operations, such as the destruction of homes belonging to Palestinian terrorists.

Jewish Extremists Sentenced

Three Israeli Jewish extremists were sentenced to between 12 and 15 years in jail. The three men sentenced Tuesday were found guilty of attempting to set off a bomb at an Arab girls school in eastern Jerusalem in April 2002. Shlomo Zeliger Dvir and Ofer Gamliel each received a 15-year prison sentence, while Yarden Morag received 12 years.

U.N. Report Blasts Israel

Israel's security fence in the West Bank is a an act of conquest, according to a U.N. investigator. The official, John Dugard, said in a U.N. report released Tuesday that the international community should condemn the fence, which he called a de facto annexation. Ariel Milo, communications director of Israel's Mission to the United Nations, criticized the report.

"This report is another example of how the United Nations, instead of dealing with the fundamental problem of the region, which is the terrorism perpetrated by the Palestinians, chooses to pick on Israel, which it sees as an easy target in light of the clear anti-Israel majority at the United Nations General Assembly," he said.

Fund Honors Slain Doctor

An Israeli hospital launched a fund in honor of an emergency-room physician killed last month in a suicide bombing. The American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem created the fund to honor Dr. David Applebaum, a U.S.-born physician who was among seven people, including his daughter, killed in a Sept. 9 attack in Jerusalem. Applebaum directed Shaare Zedek's department of emergency medicine. More information on the fund is available at www.acsz.org, or at (800) 346-1592.

Calif. Paper Goes Hip

A leading Jewish newspaper is switching over to a magazine format aimed at attracting younger readers. The Jewish Bulletin of Northern California was replaced earlier this month by j., a glossy that will highlight features and columns by younger writers. The move was made after the paper's circulation fell to 20,000 from 30,000 subscribers.

Briefs courtesy Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

JewishJournal.com is produced by TRIBE Media Corp., a non-profit media company whose mission is to inform, connect and enlighten community
through independent journalism. TRIBE Media produces the 150,000-reader print weekly Jewish Journal in Los Angeles – the largest Jewish print
weekly in the West – and the monthly glossy Tribe magazine (TribeJournal.com). Please support us by clicking here.